The topic of fighter pay continues to be a hot-button issue. Joe Rogan recently voiced strong criticism of the UFC's show-win pay model, calling it out directly. On the other hand, Khabib Nurmagomedov offered a different perspective, crediting Dana White's "cold-blooded" approach as a key factor in the UFC's success. These contrasting views highlight the ongoing debate within the MMA community about how fighters are compensated and the business strategies employed by the promotion. It's a conversation that's not going away anytime soon.
Sources (12)
We summarise the day's news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work.
- Darren Till open to UFC return against Paddy Pimblett despite ongoing criticism of Dana White (Bloody Elbow)
- Islam Makhachev shuts down Joe Rogan’s retirement theory, reveals plan to set unbreakable UFC record (Bloody Elbow)
- Gillian Robertson details growing tension with Mackenzie Dern ahead of UFC 330 (Sherdog)
- ‘This is the start of my title reign’: Ian Machado Garry targets Irish history at UFC 330 (The Mac Life)
- Khabib Nurmagomedov credits Dana White’s ‘cold-blooded’ UFC approach (Sherdog)
- Joe Rogan rips UFC show-win pay model in blunt fighter pay criticism (Sherdog)
- RAF 12 gets new main event with Henry Cejudo-Merab Dvalishvili 3 (Sherdog)
- Contender Series winner gets surprise UFC shot after UFC 330 shakeup (Sherdog)
- Gillian Robertson sees ‘destiny’ in UFC 330 clash with Mackenzie Dern (Yahoo Sports)
- Ian Machado Garry Breaks Down Islam Makhachev UFC 330 Fight (Yahoo Sports)
- Chris Weidman: 'Ian Machado Garry needs to frustrate Islam Makhachev' (MMA Weekly)
- PFL finalizes Tampa fight card for Cris Cyborg's expected MMA farewell (Sherdog)
Split from that day's roundup, so the sources listed are the full set behind the whole edition rather than this story alone.
This story ran in the August 13, 2026 edition of the daily show.